Featured stocks: SK Chemicals (001510.KS) | Hyundai Glovis (086280.KS) | Hyundai Corporation (001290.KS) | Hanwha Non-Life Insurance (000370.KS) | Hanyang Securities (009290.KS)
South Korean equities surged on Thursday as markets reopened for the first time following the Seollal (Lunar New Year) holiday. The KOSPI closing February 19, 2026 settlement of 5,677.25 marked a powerful 3.09% advance, driven by aggressive institutional buying that offset net selling by both foreign and retail investors. The KOSDAQ outpaced its larger sibling, climbing 4.94% to 1,160.71 — one of the strongest single-session performances for the tech-heavy index in recent months.
KOSPI & KOSDAQ Closing Summary
| Index | Close | Change | % Change | Day High | Day Low |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| KOSPI | 5,677.25 | +170.24 | +3.09% | 5,681.65 | 5,614.97 |
| KOSDAQ | 1,160.71 | +54.63 | +4.94% | 1,163.66 | 1,111.28 |
The KOSPI opened near 5,680 and held its gains through the session, ending just shy of its intraday high — a sign of persistent demand with no meaningful late-session fade. The previous close stood at 5,507.01 (February 13), making today’s advance of 170.24 points the largest single-day gain since the index’s record-breaking start to 2026. The KOSDAQ’s 52-week range now stands at 637.55–1,180.87, with today’s print at 1,160.71 placing the index firmly near its upper band.
Investor Flows: Institutions Lead the Charge
Institutional investors dominated order flow on both exchanges, providing the backbone of today’s rally. Foreign investors remained net sellers on the KOSPI — a trend observed in recent weeks — but pivoted to net buyers on the KOSDAQ, suggesting selective appetite for growth-oriented Korean technology names.
| Investor Type | KOSPI Net (KRW bn) | KOSDAQ Net (KRW bn) |
|---|---|---|
| Institutional | +1,637.7 | +1,042.9 |
| Foreign | -923.2 | +854.6 |
| Individual (Retail) | -860.8 | -1,830.9 |
The institutional bloc’s KRW 1.64 trillion net purchase on the KOSPI stands out as a decisive bullish signal. Pension funds and domestic asset managers appear to have used the extended Seollal break to reassess positioning, deploying capital aggressively on the re-open. Retail investors, by contrast, used the pop to take profits — a recurring pattern after holiday-gap openings.
Top Movers: Chaebol Restructuring Plays Dominate
Multiple blue-chip names hit or approached the 30% daily upper circuit limit (상한가), with SK Group and Hyundai Group affiliates leading the charge. The surge in these conglomerate-linked stocks is consistent with investor positioning around ongoing Korean chaebol restructuring narratives and value-unlocking corporate actions.
| Rank | Stock | Code | Close (KRW) | Change | % Chg |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hyundai Corporation | 001290 | 1,175 | +271 | +29.98% ⬆ UC |
| 2 | SK JS Engineering (Pref) | 001515 | 4,510 | +1,040 | +29.97% ⬆ UC |
| 3 | SK Chemicals | 001510 | 1,579 | +364 | +29.96% ⬆ UC |
| 4 | Hanwha Non-Life Ins. (Pref) | 003530 | 9,560 | +2,200 | +29.89% ⬆ UC |
| 5 | Hanyang Securities | 009290 | 8,000 | +1,840 | +29.87% ⬆ UC |
| 6 | Hyundai Glovis | 086280 | 13,800 | +3,120 | +29.21% |
(UC = Upper Circuit / 상한가 — Korea’s KRX imposes a ±30% daily price limit on individual stocks.)
The simultaneous upper-circuit moves across several group affiliates signal structured institutional demand rather than retail speculation. For more background on Korean chaebol dynamics and how they affect stock valuations, see our earlier piece on Samsung and SK Hynix investment strategy.
Market Breadth
| Metric | KOSPI | KOSDAQ |
|---|---|---|
| Advancing | 668 | 1,111 |
| Declining | 233 | 581 |
| Unchanged | 26 | 65 |
| Upper Circuit | 6 | 5 |
| Lower Circuit | 0 | 0 |
| Turnover (KRW bn) | 28,592.6 | 14,331.2 |
Breadth was overwhelmingly positive, with roughly 3 advancers for every 1 decliner on the KOSPI and nearly 2:1 on the KOSDAQ. Notably, no stocks hit the lower circuit on either board — underscoring the strength and consistency of today’s advance. Combined turnover across both exchanges reached approximately KRW 42.9 trillion, reflecting elevated participation consistent with a post-holiday catch-up trade.
Outlook
With the KOSPI now firmly above 5,600 and the KOSDAQ approaching its 52-week high at 1,180.87, the near-term technical picture is constructive. However, foreign net selling on the KOSPI warrants monitoring — if external factors (USD strength, global risk-off sentiment) intensify, foreign outflows could weigh on further upside despite strong domestic institutional demand.
Investors will next focus on upcoming corporate earnings guidance from major Korean tech conglomerates and any policy signals from the Bank of Korea regarding rate trajectories in the first half of 2026.
Disclaimer: This article is for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute investment advice or a solicitation to buy or sell any securities. Market data is sourced from KRX/Naver Finance and may be subject to minor revision. All figures are as of the February 19, 2026 market close (KST). Past performance is not indicative of future results. Always conduct your own due diligence and consult a qualified financial professional before making investment decisions.